Trademark + brand IP monitoring on marketplaces
Demonstrate that the organization actively monitors external digital channels for unauthorized use of its trademarks and brand identifiers, and responds to detected infringements in a timely manner.
Description
What this control does
This control establishes continuous monitoring of online marketplaces, domain registrars, app stores, and social media platforms to detect unauthorized use of organizational trademarks, brand names, logos, and other intellectual property. Monitoring typically employs automated scanning tools, manual review, or third-party brand protection services that alert security and legal teams when suspicious listings, domains, or accounts are detected. This matters because adversaries frequently impersonate legitimate brands to distribute malware, conduct phishing campaigns, commit wire fraud, or damage organizational reputation.
Control objective
What auditing this proves
Demonstrate that the organization actively monitors external digital channels for unauthorized use of its trademarks and brand identifiers, and responds to detected infringements in a timely manner.
Associated risks
Risks this control addresses
- Adversaries register confusingly similar domains to conduct credential phishing campaigns impersonating the organization
- Counterfeit mobile applications bearing organizational branding distribute malware or steal user credentials from app stores
- Fraudulent seller accounts on e-commerce platforms use organizational logos to defraud customers and damage brand trust
- Typosquatting domains redirect users to malicious sites or competitor offerings, eroding market share and user confidence
- Social media impersonation accounts distribute phishing links or disinformation attributed to the organization
- Undetected brand abuse on marketplaces delays takedown efforts, allowing adversaries prolonged operational windows
- Third-party resellers violate licensing terms or distribute tampered products under organizational branding without detection
Testing procedure
How an auditor verifies this control
- Request and review the documented brand monitoring policy, including scope of monitored platforms, search terms, monitoring frequency, and escalation procedures.
- Obtain a list of all trademarks, brand names, domain variations, and visual identifiers (logos, product images) currently under active monitoring.
- Identify the monitoring tools, services, or vendors used (e.g., domain watch services, marketplace scanning tools, brand protection platforms) and verify active subscriptions or licensing.
- Examine configuration of automated monitoring tools, including keyword lists, similarity thresholds, monitored marketplaces (Amazon, eBay, Alibaba), app stores (Google Play, Apple App Store), and domain registries.
- Select a sample period (e.g., previous 90 days) and review monitoring alert logs, identifying detected potential infringements, false positives, and classification rationale.
- Trace a sample of confirmed infringement cases from detection through response, verifying takedown requests, legal notifications, or platform abuse reports were submitted within defined timelines.
- Interview brand protection or legal personnel to confirm roles, responsibilities, and decision-making authority for escalation and enforcement actions.
- Test the monitoring coverage by searching a sample of protected brand terms on at least three monitored platforms and verify that results align with the organization's alert records or are documented as reviewed.
Where this control is tested